Explorer rides safely 22,500 miles around the world in 430 days – then the bike is stolen from outside a pub in Hammersmith
- Geordie Stewart, 34, had his bike stolen from outside a pub in the Anglesea Arms
An explorer cycled safely 22,500 miles around the world in 430 days, only to have his bike stolen from outside a pub in Hammersmith.
Geordie Stewart, 34, had his bike stolen outside the Anglesea Arms pub in Hammersmith, west London, on Tuesday.
The theft of Stewart’s bicycle, which he named Dorothy, was caught on a home surveillance camera.
Stewart’s adventures began in London in 2018 and have taken him cycling through France, Central Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
After a long flight, he continued his journey to the west coast of America, cycled to the east coast before catching a flight to Portugal and cycling back to London in 2019.
Geordie Stewart (pictured), 34, had his bike stolen outside the Anglesea Arms pub in Hammersmith, west London, on Tuesday
The theft of Stewart’s bicycle, which he named Dorothy, was caught on a home surveillance camera
Before it was stolen in London, Dorothy encountered numerous encounters along the way, with the bike almost being stolen at knifepoint in Italy and taken into custody by Chinese police.
Stewart told The Times: “I went out for a drink with some friends I was in the army with who I was just catching up with.” . I came out and the bike wasn’t there.’
Stewart’s desire to win back Dorothy – who he bought for a few hundred pounds on eBay in 2018 – is due to sentimental value rather than financial gain.
He added: “I subjected the bike to every possible condition, from minus 45C in Kazakhstan to 45C in California.” It was almost stolen by a man with a knife in Italy, it was taken by Chinese police and confiscated for a while. “I was threatened by people in the middle of the Australian outback.”
Stewart’s adventures began in London in 2018 and have taken him cycling through France, Central Asia, Australia and New Zealand
After a long flight, he continued his journey to the west coast of America and cycled east before catching a flight to Portugal and cycling back to London in 2019
Stewart also explained why he named his bike Dorothy.
He said: “I called her Dorothy because she’s part of Dawes, a British cycling brand, so I felt she must be British.” And Dorothy is a character from The Wizard of Oz and I wanted to go to Australia travel, so I thought Dorothy would be a fitting Brit [as she is] travel.’
At the age of 22, Stewart became the youngest Briton to climb the highest mountain on any continent before joining the army for five years.
Stewart said he did not tell police that Dorothy had been stolen because he felt police had bigger things to worry about.
However, he said he still hopes he can get the bike back, whether through a used market or if a new owner recognizes it and returns it to him.